AROMATHERAPY FOR SLEEP

Helping Your Child to Sleep

Aromatherapy for sleep induction have successfully been used for generations.Sleep is vital to the health of your child (as it is to everyone). Most children sleep very quietly after all the activity of a bust day, but there are times when even they can have difficulty sleeping. There are many different reasons for this, and I have listed a few here with the various ways in which aromatherapy can be helpful.

FEAR OF THE DARK –

This is very common in children, especially if they have nightmares and wake up in a very dark, silent room. Using an oil burner in the bedroom creates a safe atmosphere, because of its gently glowing light and soothing aroma. You can easily take the oil burner away from home, too, to create the same safe atmosphere in a strange place.

The following oils are all quiet sedative and you can experiment until you find a blend that your child really likes.

- Chamomile

- Benzoin

- Frankincense

- Neroli

- Patchouli

- Vetiver

- Rose

- Sandalwood

- Marigold

- Myrrh

- Ylang- Ylang

- Clary sage

HYPERACTIVITY –

If your child is hyperactive, the chances are that you will find he or she has difficulty in falling asleep. Try the following sequence of aromatherapy for sleep induction.

First of all, add ten drops of chamomile oil to a three quarters filled bath. Encourage your child to soak in it (while supervised) for as long as possible. Use toys or games to keep the child interested, or read a story aloud.

Next, use six drops of chamomile oil to 4 fl oz (100 ml) of carrier oil and massage it into your child’s back and shoulders, then the tummy and chest. Do this after drying him or her and while standing, and make the movements as soothing as possible.

Finally use chamomile and benzoin oils in a burner or vaporizer in the bedroom. Once your little one is tucked up in bed, try massaging a little of the above blend into his or her forehead with soothing strokes while you read a bedtime story.

EXCITABILITY –

Children get really keyed up about certain events, holidays and Christmas. The trouble is that by getting exited and not sleeping properly, the occasions they so look forward to are often marred by their irritability and short tempers – the consequences of lack of sleep. Aromatherapy for sleep induction helps a lot in such children.

Try using any of the sedative oils in your child’s bath, and also in a vaporizer or burner in their bedroom. You can also sprinkle a few drops of chamomile or ylang-ylnag oil on to the pillow.

FEAR and ANXIETY –

Like adults, children often loose sleep through fear or anxiety. The cause may be an impending test or exam, a trip to the dentist, or one of many other problems.

Helpful oils for this are:

- Bergamot

- Thyme

- Neroli

- Marjoram

- Geranium

- Chamomile

- Lavender

Again, you can use them in the bath, or in a burner or vaporizer. They can also help when inhaled neat from the bottle. Neroli is very effective when used this way.

Note- If your child is facing an impending test or examination, use rosemary in his or her bath and in a burner – it’s a great aid to the memory! It can also be inhaled just before the test or exam.